Category: Music

BRIT Award-winning, multi-platinum selling musician George Ezra today debuts his hugely infectious new single ‘Green Green Grass,’ the second song to be lifted from his forthcoming new album Gold Rush Kid, due for release on 10 June via Columbia Records. The single arrives alongside the announcement of a huge nationwide UK arena tour, scheduled for September and October, following George’s special show at London’s Finsbury Park in July.

Listen to ‘Green Green Grass’

Pre-order / pre-save Gold Rush Kid

‘Green Green Grass’ is an irresistibly joyful song about making the best of things, even when it might feel like the worst of things are afoot: “Green green grass, blue blue sky, you better throw a party on the day that I die.”

“I was on holiday in St Lucia with a few friends at Christmas 2018, with two of my closest mates from home,” explains George. “We were in this beach bar, drinking homemade rum punch and Piton, the local lager, flip-flopping between the two, pissing about with three local guys who worked there. And this music started up, three streets back from the sea.

“After about half an hour, I had to go see what it was. And there was a street party going on, with three different sound systems, people cooking in the street. I asked a woman what was going on and she told me it was a funeral – for three people. They were celebrating three lives! I thought: that is not how we do this at home. And it’s really beautiful.”

‘Green Green Grass’ follows the euphoric first single and album opener ‘Anyone For You,’ which continues to climb the UK Official Singles Chart and is the number one song at UK radio, with A-list rotation across all major stations.

George debuted both songs to a rapturous reception at his recent intimate gigs in London, Manchester and Edinburgh – shows praised as “a joyous singalong that was impossible to resist” (5*, The Telegraph), “blazing sunshine tempered by subtle shadow” (4*, Evening Standard) and a set filled with “hooks so plentiful he could go long-line fishing with them” (4*, The Guardian).

Listen / watch ‘Anyone For You’

“The Gold Rush Kid? That’s me,” says George, reflecting on the title of his third record – a 12-strong suite of marvellous, transporting, elevational songs, that more than anything “sound like me. That’s what ties them together.”

After two blockbuster albums – Wanted On Voyage (2014) and Staying At Tamara’s (2018), both of which reached number 1 in the UK and sold millions around the world, and the latter of which earned him his first number 1 single in ‘Shotgun’ and won him the 2019 Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist – it was time to return to heart and hearth, with an album written and produced entirely in London with longstanding collaborator Joel Pott.

George Ezra – Gold Rush Kid album art (download high res assets)

Following the release of Gold Rush Kid, Ezra will play his biggest headline show to date, a special all day event at London’s Finsbury Park on 17 July 2022. Joining George at his first live show in almost three years, presented by Festival Republic, will be special guests Blossoms, Holly Humberstone, Mimi Webb, The Big Moon, Mychelle and the London International Gospel Choir. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

He today announces a full nationwide UK arena tour to follow in September and October, beginning at Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on 13 September and taking in 11 shows, finishing at Sheffield FlyDSA Arena on 2 October. Fans who pre-order Gold Rush Kid before 3pm on Tuesday 26 April can access tickets via exclusive pre-sale, before they go on general sale at 10am, Friday 29 April via Ticketmaster.

George Ezra tour 2022 Sunday 17 July – Finsbury Park, London

Tuesday 13 September – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool Wednesday 14 September – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Friday 16 September – The AO Arena, Manchester

Tuesday 20 September – Utilita Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne Thursday 22 September – Utilita Arena, Birmingham Sunday 25 September – P&J Live, Aberdeen

Monday 26 September – The Ovo Hydro, Glasgow Wednesday 28 September – SSE Arena, Belfast Thursday 29 September – 3Arena, Dublin Saturday 1 October – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham Sunday 2 October – FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield

Alongside the tour announcement, George has partnered with YouTube Music to be their Sustainability Partner for 2022. He says: “I am conscious that creating, touring and promoting a record has an impact on the environment, so I am delighted to announce I will be working with YouTube Music as their Sustainability Partner for 2022. They have very generously provided a significant financial contribution to support a cause of my choosing; this is going to be The National Trust, who are working hard to reverse the decline in nature and reduce the impact of climate change by planting trees and restoring landscapes. Together, we’ll directly use this money to plant 17,000 trees across the UK.”

The National Trust has committed to planting or establishing 20 million trees covering an area the size of Birmingham as part of their plan to become net zero by 2030. The carbon benefits from the 17,000 trees will go towards the charity’s own net zero ambitions.

National Trust Director General Hilary McGrady said: “We are enormously grateful to George for this donation, and it serves as an important reminder that only by a collective will and everyone playing their part will we help reverse some of the impacts of climate change and help the nation to reach net zero.

“This gift represents an important step as part of our ambition to try and tackle the effects of climate change. We are planting the trees in the right places to maximise the impact they will have in locking in carbon.”

YouTube Music is a music app made for music listening, on top of the magic of YouTube: making the world of music easier to explore and more personalised than ever. Whether you want to listen, watch or discover – all the ways music moves you can be found in one place – not just music videos, but official albums, singles, remixes, live performances, covers and hard-to-find music you can only get on YouTube.

Iconic Colombian singer-songwriter and multiple GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® winner Shakira has released new single “Te Felicito” with Latin GRAMMY® award winning and GRAMMY® nominated Latin music superstar Rauw Alejandro–listen to it here! 

The funk-infused reggaeton track was released alongside a music video which shows Shakira creating her ideal man, turning out to be none other than Rauw Alejandro. Rauw (and his robot alter ego) join Shakira in an electrifying choreography that makes anyone watching want to move to the irresistible track. Watch the video here!  Directed by Jaume de la Iguana, the video was shot in Barcelona.

Stay tuned for more new music from Shakira coming soon!

It’s about damn time that Lizzo returns to bless us with new music!

3x GRAMMY® Award-winning, RIAA multi-platinum certified superstar Lizzo has shared her long-awaited new single, “About Damn Time,” available now via Nice Life Recording Company/Atlantic Records at all DSPs and streaming services HERE. The confident, empowering track is joined by an official music video, garnering over 15 million views — 11 days since its release.

“About Damn Time” heralds Lizzo’s highly-anticipated upcoming album SPECIAL, due July 15th with pre-orders available now HERE.

April 16 saw Lizzo celebrating the eagerly anticipated arrival of “About Damn Time” by returning to NBC’s Saturday Night Live as both host and musical guest – her first appearance on the show since serving as a musical guest back in 2019. Lizzo is one of the few superstars to serve as both host and musical guest on SNL and is only the third black female to pull double duty in the show’s history. The appearance follows recent visits to NBC’s The TODAY Show and CBS’ The Late Late Show with James Corden, the latter of which saw Lizzo teasing “About Damn Time” by giving fans an exclusive first listen to the funky new single (watch HERE), followed by an “80s v Today Dance Bop Riff-Off” that culminates with the two stars dancing to her 2x platinum favorite, “Juice”.

Lizzo’s Amazon Prime Video #1 reality show, Watch Out For the Big Grrrls streaming now!

Lizzo can also currently be seen in Amazon Prime Video’s #1 reality show, Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls, streaming now exclusively via Prime Video. The eight-episode unscripted competition series – which follows Lizzo on her hunt for confident, bad-ass women to join the elite ranks of the Big Grrrls on her world tour – has swiftly drawn critical acclaim around the world, with The Hollywood Reporter declaring, “Lizzo was born to be a reality TV host… her effervescent persona just innately lends itself to the heightened nature of this genre,” and The Guardian simply raving, “This joyful show will water your parched soul.”

As if all that weren’t enough, Lizzo recently added “fashion entrepreneur” to her multi-hyphenate career by joining forces with parent company Fabletics, Inc. for the launch of her revolutionary new shapewear brand, YITTY. Named after her childhood moniker and based on the principles of self-love, radical inner confidence, and effortless, everyday wear, the game-changing, size-inclusive brand marks an industry first: no-shame, smile-inducing shapewear designed for all body types, with sizes ranging from size 6X to XS. For more information, please visit yitty.fabletics.com/splash.

A 3x GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and so much more, Lizzo has shifted the sound, soul, and spirit of popular music and culture. 2019’s now-classic, RIAA platinum-certified debut album, CUZ I LOVE YOU, bowed at #4 on the Billboard 200, fueled in part by such history-making hits as the platinum-certified “Tempo (Feat. Missy Elliott),” the 2x platinum “Juice,” the 4x platinum “Good As Hell,” and the 7x platinum “Truth Hurts.” The latter of which ascended to #1 on Billboard’s “Hot 100,” affirming Lizzo as only the third female rapper to top the chart without a featured artist, as well as the first black solo female R&B singer to claim the top spot since 2012. “Truth Hurts” dominated the chart for seven weeks, further making history as the longest-running #1 by a solo female rap artist ever. Named by Rolling Stone as one of the “500 Greatest Songs Of All Time,” “Truth Hurts” went on to earn a 2020 GRAMMY® Award for “Best Pop Solo Performance,” with CUZ I LOVE YOU (DELUXE) receiving that year’s GRAMMY® for “Best Urban Contemporary Album” and “Jerome” earning “Best Traditional R&B Performance.”

Crowned 2019’s “Entertainer of the Year” by both TIME and Entertainment Weekly, Lizzo has adorned the covers of countless publications around the globe, spanning Rolling Stone, Billboard, Elle, British Vogue, and many more. Among her many unforgettable TV appearances, Lizzo has lit up the stage at the American Music Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, the BET Awards, Saturday Night Live, and an epic opening performance at the GRAMMYs, to name just a few. Expanding her imprint and influence across media, Lizzo lent her voice to the 2019 animated film, UglyDolls, and joined Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, and Cardi B in the all-star cast of that same year’s critically acclaimed Hustlers.

Lizzo maintained this unstoppable momentum on 2021’s RIAA gold-certified “Rumors (Feat. Cardi B)” and is now set to create her biggest, boldest, and brightest revolution thus far with her massively anticipated second full-length offering SPECIAL for Nice Life Recording Company/Atlantic Records, due July 15th.

Jack Harlow wants to put you in “First Class”!

Multiple GRAMMY-nominated, chart-topping rap superstar Jack Harlow is back with his infectious new single, “First Class,” out everywhere today via Generation Now/Atlantic Records. “First Class” brilliantly samples Fergie’s classic 2006 hit, “Glamorous” and has already become a viral trend on Tik Tok days after Jack teased a snippet of the song from the studio.

Download/Stream “First Class” here.

“First Class” follows the previously released bombastic single, “Nail Tech,” and is the second offering from the hitmaker’s highly anticipated sophomore album, COME HOME THE KIDS MISS YOU, which arrives everywhere May 6.

Pre-order COME HOME THE KIDS MISS YOU here.

Tomorrow, the Louisville-bred hitmaker will take the stage to both present and perform at the 2022 Kids’ Choice Awards, where he is also nominated for Favorite Breakout Artist. The 2022 Kids’ Choice Awards airs live on Nickelodeon at 7:30 pm ET (check local listings.)

Ahead of the release of “First Class,” Harlow took the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards by storm as one of the most talked-about artists of the night thanks to his “best-dressed” red carpet look and showstopping performance with Lil Nas X. He is also on the cover of the current issue of Rolling Stone. Read the full cover story here.

Highly anticipated sophomore album “Come Home the Kids Miss You” comes out on May 6!

Harlow’s new album comes after a blockbuster 2021, which saw the acclaimed rapper ascend to become a household name. In addition to gracing the cover of Variety, Forbes, Complex, SPIN, and Footwear News, he made his Saturday Night Live debut, performed with Lil Nas X at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, attended the MET Gala, and celebrated his first-ever #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his GRAMMY-nominated Lil Nas X collaboration, “Industry Baby.”

Harlow also cemented himself as one of music’s most dynamic live performers with standout performances at major festivals including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Rolling Loud, and more, all before embarking on his sold-out, North American “Crème de la Crème Tour.” He wrapped up the year by returning to Louisville for his “No Place Like Home” shows, which saw Harlow performing 5 unforgettable shows at 5 iconic venues in his hometown.

The 24-year-old gave back to his hometown with donations to five different organizations that benefit causes close to his heart. He donated to AMPED, The Center for Women and Families, Grace James Academy, Louisville Urban League & Metro United Way. Inspired by his initial individual efforts, Instagram and KFC joined Harlow in making additional donations to these organizations.

With the lead up to the Academy Awards Sebastián Yatra performed the Academy Award nominated Best Original Song “Dos Oruguitas” on GMA this morning! Hoping you can all view the performance including interview here!

The Encanto Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from the Academy Award®-nominated Walt Disney Animation Studios film, featuring eight original songs by Academy Award-nominated, Tony® and Grammy®-winning songwriter/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) with an original score by Academy Award-nominated composer Germaine Franco maintains the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200 chart for the seventh non-consecutive week. The R.I.A.A. Gold-certified set earned 90,000 equivalent album units (down 8%) in its eleventh week on the chart for the week ending Feb. 24, 2022.  The album also maintains the top position on Billboard’s Soundtrack and Independent Album charts for the sixth consecutive week. 

On Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, the 2X Platinum-certified “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” maintains the No. 1 spot for the fifth consecutive week. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is the only song from a Disney animated or live-action film to top the Hot 100 for multiple weeks.

Seven songs from the Encanto soundtrack areon the Hot 100: No. 1 – “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” No. 13 – “Surface Pressure,” No. 26 – “The Family Madrigal,” No. 38 – “What Else Can I Do?,” No. 46 – “Dos Oruguitas,” No. 60 -“Waiting on a Miracle,” and No. 77 -“All of You.” 

The Encanto soundtrack and song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” have topped the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 simultaneously for five consecutive weeks. The last soundtrack and song to achieve at least five weeks at No. 1 was 1992’s “The Bodyguard” and “I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Houston).

“Dos Oruguitas” maintains the No. 2 position on the Latin Streaming Songs and Latin Digital Sales Songs charts for the second consecutive week.  Previously, the track held the No. 1 position on the Latin Streaming Songs chart for 5 consecutive weeks and the Latin Digital Sales chart for 3 consecutive weeks.  

Read the Billboard 200 story here  and the Hot 100 story here.

Additional highlights include:

·    At TikTok, sounds from the album have over 25.8B views, with over 10.5M creations (life to date).

·    The music of Encanto has over 3.5B streams.

·    “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200 and holds its No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top Song Consumption, Top Audio Streams and Top Video Streams charts. The song also holds the #1 Top Song and #1 Top Music Video positions at YouTube. The video has over 393M combined views to date. 

·    “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is #32* at Mainstream Top 40 and #26* Adult Top 40 radio formats.

·    “Dos Oruguitas” is No. 2 on Billboard’s Latin Streaming Songs, No. 2 on Billboard’s Latin Digital Song Sales and No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Song chart. The combined videos have over 65M views.

·    “Surface Pressure” has over 257M combined video views and is No. 13 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

·    Encanto Soundtrack is #1 on Spotify’s Weekly Top Albums US chart, #1 on Amazon Albums Chart, #1 on Apple Music’s Album Chart and #1 on iTunes Albums Chart.

·    In the UK, the soundtrack has been #1 on the UK Official Compilation and UK Official Soundtrack Charts for eight consecutive weeks. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is #1 on the UK Singles Chart for the sixth consecutive week. 

·    In Canada, the soundtrack is No. 1 on Billboard’s Canadian Albums chart for the fifth consecutive week and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is No. 1 on Billboard’s Canadian Top 200 Song Consumption chart for the fifth consecutive week.

Disney’s “Encanto” is now streaming on Disney+ and in theaters and is available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. Listen to Lin-Manuel Miranda and Germaine Franco discuss the songs and score of “Encanto” on a new episode of Disney’s For Scores podcast here and enjoy the music featured on the DisneyHitsPlaylist.  The Encanto vinyl album can be pre-ordered here.

Facebook.com/disneymusic

Twitter.com/disneymusic

Instagram.com/disneymusic

YouTube.com/DisneyMusicVevo

TikTok

Multi-platinum selling pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer unveil their new single “COMPLETE MESS” via BMG – listen HERE. The anthemic single aptly balances an expansive, epic vibe with a contemporary pop sensibility. The band teased the song late last week on socials which sparked an immediate frenzy online, trending worldwide, as fans eagerly await new music. Additionally, the single heralds the band’s soon-to-be-announced fifth studio album, which will be released independently in partnership with BMG.

The release comes alongside its music video – directed by Lauren Dunn (Kali Uchis, 070 Shake, Jack White) and creative direction by Tyler Serebreni of Other Half Creative – which acts as a visual extension of the song, characterized by sequences that take on a ethereal, dreamlike quality that perfectly reflect the nature of the track. You can watch it on Youtube HERE and the video made its broadcast premiere on MTV Live, MTVU and on the Paramount Times Square billboards.

The track was created during a writing trip in Joshua tree and is the first song to be entirely written and produced by the band, with Michael handling the production. “For this record we realized if you want something done that truly represents how you feel, you’ve got to do it yourselves. We wanted that expansive sound that we naturally gravitate towards when we play together, so we had to learn how to record that,” states the group. “This new music is so authentically us. It’s exactly the kind of music we want to be making right now and it’s a good song to be able to reconnect to our fans after such a long time of not releasing music. We can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on.”

The song’s title references a fan favorite tee-shirt Luke used to wear, but the lyrics go far deeper, reflecting on the worthwhile chaos of a relationship. The single was perfected over several recording sessions at Rancho V in Joshua Tree, Michael’s own home studio and Dragonfly Creek in Malibu and simultaneously showcases the strength of Michael’s production and the bands song writing. The track with its mature and anthemic sound, highlights the bands evolution, now in their 11^th year as a band, and represents a moment of authentic growth while also teasing what’s to come on their forthcoming album.

Additionally, the band is set to kick off their 2022 World Tour this summer. The North American run will begin on Saturday, June 11 in Vancouver, BC, making stops in Los Angeles, New York City, Nashville and more before wrapping in St. Louis, MO on July 24. Tickets are available now at 5sos.com/tour.

5SOS 2022 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:
Sat Jun 11 – Vancouver, BC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
Sun Jun 12 – Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater
Tue Jun 14 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
Thu Jun 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium

Fri Jun 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
Sat Jun 18 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
Mon Jun 20 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre
Wed Jun 22 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
Fri Jun 24 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
Sat Jun 25 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Sun Jun 26 – Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Tue Jun 28 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Thu Jun 30 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
Fri Jul 01 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Sun Jul 03 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tue Jul 05 – Washington D.C. – The Anthem
Wed Jul 06 – Philadelphia, PA – Skyline Stage at The Mann
Fri Jul 08 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
Sat Jul 09 – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion
Sun Jul 10 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Pavilion
Tue Jul 12 – New York City, NY –  Pier 17

Wed July 13 – New York City, NY – Pier 17
Fri Jul 15 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
Sat Jul 16 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Mon Jul 18 – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center
Wed Jul 20 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Thu Jul 21 – Detroit, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill

Sat Jul 23 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory
Sun Jul 24 – Maryland Heights, MO – Saint Louis Music Park

Following three sold-out shows at London’s Lafayette, British singer-songwriter Sam Ryder, has just released his first single of 2022 ‘SPACE MAN’, available now on all streaming platforms via Parlophone/Elektra Records. Sam has quickly become a reliable name when it comes to releasing songs of depth, honesty and quality and the new single is an exciting taster of what’s to come this year.

Listen to the track here

‘SPACE MAN’ is richly raw, as Sam describes what the world would be like if he was an astronaut, in the dreamiest sense. His authentic lyrics are paired perfectly with the gravelly voice that makes Sam Ryder’s music so remarkable. Sam Ryder’s bold music is storytelling refracted through a universal lens, it’s reminiscent of Elton John’s work, a bouncy pop anthem full of both fun and deeply personal lyrics.

The Essex based singer-songwriter has been making sure he remains true to his art since the industry spotlight fell on him. The meteoric rise was caused by the viral hit ‘Whirlwind’ that was uploaded online without any expectations and any anticipation of what was to follow. The voice behind it was completely new to the premise of where writing a great song might lead him. Even now he’d tell you that he’s still slowly working it all out, but this new single sounds as fully realised and confident as any in recent memory.

In a time where the world was plunged into darkness in 2020, Sam Ryder found his light through music, this led him to post cover versions of his favourite tracks online. Consequently, this was picked up and shared by the likes of Justin Bieber, Sia and Alicia Keys – just to name a few, from there on in, life changed for the musician.

Following a stellar two-years in which his much-loved ‘The Sun’s Gonna Rise’ anthemic EP became a worldwide hit. Gathering 100m+ global streams, 18m on social media, Sam has become a household music name on TikTok and even appearing on Ellen Show, BBC Newsbeat and unanimous support from tastemakers.

Sam has spent the last few months writing and recording original songs with some of the finest writers and producers from around the world which are set to continue his meteoric rise.

Connect with Sam Ryder

Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / TikTok

Role Model (a.k.a. Tucker Pillsbury) releases his brand-new single entitled “if jesus saves, she’s my type” along with the music video. The upbeat track debuted yesterday with Role Model featured on the cover of New Music Daily on Apple Music. It will also be included on his upcoming debut album, Rx. The album is an extremely dynamic body of work with an underlying message about the power of a woman, layered with elements of religion, sex and love. Rx is due out on April 8^th just ahead of Role Model’s performance at this year’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, and it is available for pre-save now. “if jesus saves, she’s my type” is also available now at all digital retail providers via Interscope Records. 

Role Model says about the track, “As much as I love being alone, I think even the strongest people have a breaking point. I spent years completely alone and got to a point where I needed help, which later came in the form of a girl, who I fell in love with. This song is that stage of desperation that I felt could be compared to the way some people find God. When you’re on your knees just begging for something or someONE. It sets up the album perfectly.” 

Click HERE to listen. 

The music video, directed by Dylan Knight, is fun, playful, and theatrical. Tucker stars as a small town’s local pastor who is convinced he has found God in the shape of a beautiful girl. Role Model’s energy is magnetic as he preaches to the church when suddenly in walks a girl, like a metaphorical Jesus, wearing a short denim skirt and hoop earrings. The chemistry between the girl and Tucker builds as he tries to impress her by showing off his dance skills. They eventually break out into a choreographed routine and the congregation leaps to their feet to praise what seems like the second coming of Jesus. To Role Model, God is a woman. 

Click HERE to watch.

About Role Model

Tucker Pillsbury assembles, disassembles, and reassembles different vibes, sounds, and emotions into Role Model. One moment, he’s crooning about his crush’s earrings over crunchy chords. The next, he’s spitting bars about staying home. Either way, the intimacy of his songwriting beckons connection. You’ll experience doubt, anxiety, infatuation, and even love right next to him. His story kicked into high gear back in 2017. Following the Soundcloud success of “Cocaine Babe” and “Girl In New York,” he earned the respect of late idol Mac Miller and Benny Blanco. Trading Maine for California, he made waves with the oh, how perfect EP in 2019, generating tens of millions of streams on “hello,” “notice me” [feat. BENEE], and “that’s just how it goes.” A year later, his momentum only increased with the follow-up our little angel EP. The single “blind” eclipsed 64 million Spotify streams, while coup de main hailed it as “must-listen.” The Line of Best Fit praised his “songs with tenderness and Gen Z apathy.” After gathering nearly 437 million streams and receiving acclaim from HYPEBEAST, DIY, Earmilk, and many more, he illuminates every side of himself on his most recent singles “forever&more” and “death wish”. 

Today, Japanese cultural and fashion icon, NIGO, reveals a new single and music video entitled “Want It Bad” [feat. Kid Cudi] via Victor Victor Worldwide/Republic Records. Listen to “Want It Bad”—HERE. Watch the music video for “Want It Bad”—HERE. It charges the way for the arrival of his upcoming album, I Know Nigo, which is set for release on March 25th. NIGO and Pharrell notably serve as the album’s executive producers. 

“Want It Bad” charges forward on a pulsating bass line before Cudi’s otherworldly warbling vocals take hold on the hook. It pops off as an irresistible and intergalactic banger. In the music video, Nigo and Cudi whip around Paris in a high-speed sportscar before turning up at a house party.

To set the stage for this chapter, he unleashed “Arya” [feat. A$AP Rocky]. Right out of the gate, it amassed over 7.9 million Spotify streams and counting. Earning widespread acclaim, The FADER raved, “both Nigo’s beat and A$AP‘s bars take us back to the late aughts, Rocky’s salad days and a simpler time in hip-hop overall,” and OnesToWatch described it as “exactly what the world needed from the collaboration between Nigo and A$AP Rocky.” Stereogum noted, “Rocky raps over moody pianos with a crispy bounce in his voice, and he sounds like he’s having fun.” Meanwhile, HYPEBEAST applauded, “Starting with angelic looping piano chords, A$AP Rocky comes in with the hard-hitting bass drums that carry the track. Riding the piano heavy beat accented by tittering hi-hats and choice snare hits, Rocky delivers three verses and infectious chorus lines.”

I Know Nigo will be Nigo’s first musical body of work in nearly two decades.

NIGO continues to make headlines. He recently led his debut show in Paris as artistic director for KENZO, with an audience that included Pharrell, Ye, Julia Fox, Tyler the Creator, Pusha T, and GUNNA, among others. The show also gave the audience an exclusive preview of the album, showcasing features from A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, Kid Cudi, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Teriyaki Boyz, Tyler the Creator and Lil Uzi Vert as announced by NIGO last month. Snippets of the new music went viral and trended on Twitter immediately following the show’s debut and accumulated over a million plays on clips that were shared across the platform.

More music from NIGO will be coming soon.

NIGO SOCIALS:

Instagram // Twitter // YouTube